====== Installation on a Web Server ======

This chapter describes the installation of SoSci Survey on an own web server.

If you want to update an already existing installation of SoSci Survey, please read [[update|Update of the installation]].


**Note:** This chapter is __not__ relevant if you want to use SoSci Survey on an already existing survey server (e. g. [[https://www.soscisurvey.de|www.soscisurvey.de]]). There you can directly register a user account and a survey project without installation ([[:en:start|Overview]]).

**Note:** SoSci Survey is __not__ publicly available for download. Companies can purchase server licenses to run their own survey server ([[https://www.soscisurvey.de/en/pricing#licence|pricing]]). Academic institutions receive a free [[https://www.soscisurvey.de/en/academic|university license]] upon request.

The procedure is simple if you are familiar with the installation of web applications:

  - Prepare the database
    * Create an user for databases in MySQL and
    * a database for SoSci Survey and
    * make sure that the data at rest encryption is activated
  - Copy all files from the Setup-ZIP in a directionary on the webserver
  - Make sure that the PHP process has a file write access on the directionary
  - HTTP-access rights
    * Prohibit HTTP access on ''files'', ''system'', ''inc'' and ''lib''.
    * Optionally restrict HTTP access to ''admin'' to the corporate network and/or VPN.
    * Make sure that HTTP access is only possible via HTTPS (SSL encrypted).
  - Rufen Sie im Browser die URL ''.../admin/install.php'' auf
  - Add any missing PHP modules and adjust the PHP configuration as needed
  - Email dispatch
    * Enter a relay host in the ''sendmail'' settings if necessary.
    * Entry alternativly a SMTP server for mail dispatch in thr server settings
  - Set up two cronjobs for SoSci Survey ([[:en:server:crontask]])

The steps are described more detailed in the following manuals:

  * [[:en:server:requirements]]
  * [[:en:server:security]] (important)
  * [[:en:server:prepare]]
  * [[:en:server:copy]]
  * [[:en:server:permissions]]
  * [[:en:server:php-settings]]
  * [[:en:server:install]]
  * [[:en:server:crontask]] (necessarry)

===== Further Steps =====

  * You should change some of the Settings to ensure [[security|Server Security]] 
  * SoSci Survey knows a number of extensions that you can now install: [[plugins|Extensions]].
  * The chapter [[data|Data in SoSci Survey]] gives you an overview of where SoSci Survey stores which data.
  * There are a number of ways to [[performance|Optimize Server Performance ]].
  * To adjust non-modifiable settings [[config|the configuration can be changed manually ]].
  * The procedure for updating an existing installation is described in the chapter  [[update|Update of the Installation]].